Another root rake guage wheel thread

[hrcarver]

Here are some gauge wheels that I made this morning to go on my 6' root rake. I went with 10" flat free swivel caster wheels at $27 each. Could have done it cheaper with pneumatic tires, but I hate flats. I ended up with $80 in the pair, but it still beats $300!

Basically just 2" tubing with 1.5" tubing for the adjustable inserts, a few nuts and bolts w/ some scrap flat iron.

 

[lhfarm]

Very nice! I think you made the right call on the wheels/tires. I went cheap HF and they are always flat. Where did you buy them?

Thanks,

 

[hrcarver]

Northern tool.

 

[RedDirt]

I did the same as lhfarm with the same result though they lasted a couple of years. I replaced the pneumatic tires with solid wood wheels. I cut six 8" circles in 3/4" exterior plywood scraps on the bandsaw then glued and screwed three circles together to make two 2 1/4" wide wheels. When glue dried I bored for the 5/8" axles at the radius point for the circles on the drill press. No flats no mo.

I've run these two years now with no problems except that the outer edge plies have chipped a bit. The wheels tend to cake up with clay when conditions are damp but I'm going to mount scraper bars on the wheels ant that should keep them clean.